JP6936733B2 - Forward projection asymmetric optical design - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure is broadly intended for asymmetric optics that direct light to controlled horizontal and vertical beam patterns to create uniform illumination on the surface.

Proper lighting of vertical surfaces such as walls or other tall structures, as well as horizontal surfaces such as sidewalks and driveways, is often new due to the required close setback and wide spacing. Requires a flexible lighting unit and system. Indirect lighting units have been created to illuminate these surfaces from the recess, but these units have some disadvantages.

One example of an indirect lighting unit used to illuminate a surface from a recess is an asymmetric reflector. The beam pattern created by the asymmetric reflector is intended to create a uniform illuminance on the surface by directing the peak intensity of the beam to the farthest point to be illuminated. The rest of the beam is used to fill the target area. These beam patterns can have high uniformity over a small region, but tend to result in outflow light that extends beyond the target region. In fact, many forward throw asymmetric fixtures have a relatively wide vertical beam angle, which provides a large setback-to-throw ratio or higher contrast illuminance. Bring.

Existing lighting units have some other disadvantages. For example, a surface illuminated by a backlit unit is often brighter in the proximal region of the lighting unit and darker in the distal region of the lighting unit. In addition, the light beam projected onto the surface is narrower in the proximal region of the illumination unit and wider in the distal region of the illumination unit, creating a "V" pattern or scalloping effect on the surface. Bring. To prevent "V" or scalloped pattern effects, existing lighting systems may utilize multiple lighting units at opposite edges of the surface, or a brighter lighting unit may be a distal portion of the surface. A plurality of lighting units of different intensities may be used in which the weaker lighting unit is directed to a proximal portion of the surface. However, multiple lighting units add additional time and expense to the lighting system, and in many places it is impractical or impossible to utilize multiple lighting units.

Therefore, there is a need in the industry for improved indirect lighting units that provide uniform surface illumination from the recess. For example, there is a need for a narrower beam angle that provides a smaller receding to projection distance ratio and higher uniformity.

The present disclosure is directed to the methods and devices of the invention for uniform surface illumination from a lighting unit located in a proximity receding portion. Various embodiments and realizations herein are intended for lighting units that include optical components located between a light source and a surface to be illuminated. The optics modify the light beam to control it in both the horizontal and vertical axes to produce uniform illumination without excessive outflow. For example, in some embodiments, the illumination unit has a convex lens portion that focuses a portion of the light beam to a distal portion of the surface and a portion of the light beam that is proximal to the surface. Includes an optical component with a concave lens portion to be focused on.

Broadly, in some embodiments, the lighting unit is configured to illuminate a surface having a portion proximal and a portion distal to the lighting unit. The illumination unit is (i) a light source configured to emit a light beam, and (ii) an optical component located between the light source and the surface, wherein the optical component emits the light beam. The optical component has an input surface facing the light source, and the input surface is the emitted light beam. A convex lens portion configured to direct a part of the surface toward the distal portion of the surface and a concave lens portion configured to direct a portion of the emitted light beam toward the proximal portion of the surface. Includes optical components to have.

According to the embodiment, the lighting unit includes a diffuser located between the optical component and the surface. According to the embodiment, the diffuser has at least a partial contour around the optics.

According to the embodiment, the lighting unit includes a baffle located between the optical component and the surface.

According to the embodiment, the light source is an LED-based light source.

According to the embodiment, the lighting unit has a plurality of light sources.

According to the embodiment, the emitted light beam has a substantially uniform illumination distribution along the length of the surface.

According to another aspect, the lighting system is configured to illuminate a surface having a proximal portion and a distal portion to the lighting system. The illumination system is (i) a light source configured to emit a light beam, (ii) an optical component located between the light source and the surface, wherein the optical component emits the light beam. The optical component has an input surface facing the light source, the input surface being the light beam of the emitted light beam. It has a convex lens portion configured to direct a portion towards the distal portion of the surface and a concave lens portion configured to direct a portion of the emitted light beam toward the proximal portion of the surface. It has an optical component, (iii) a diffuser located between the optical component and the surface, and (iv) a baffle located between the optical component and the surface.

According to the embodiment, the diffuser has at least a partial contour around the optics.

According to the embodiment, the light source is an LED-based light source. According to the embodiment, the lighting system includes a plurality of light sources.

According to the embodiment, the emitted light beam has a substantially uniform illumination distribution along the length of the surface.

According to the embodiment, the lighting system includes a cover lens. According to an embodiment, the baffle of the lighting system is a textured portion of the cover lens.

According to another aspect, the lighting system illuminates a surface having a proximal portion and a distal portion with respect to the lighting system. The lighting system is (i) a plurality of LED-based light sources configured to each emit a light beam, and (ii) optical components located between each of the light sources and the surface. The optics are configured to modify the light beam emitted by a related one of the plurality of light sources to have a mostly uniform illumination distribution along the surface, with each optic being configured. A convex lens portion having an input surface facing the light source and configured to direct a part of the emitted light beam toward the distal portion of the surface, and a part of the emitted light beam. An optical component having a concave lens portion configured to point towards the proximal portion of the surface, (iii) a diffuser located between the optical component and the surface, at least in part. Includes a diffuser contoured around and (iv) a baffle located between the optics and the surface.

As used herein for the purposes of this disclosure, the term "LED" refers to any electroluminescent diode, or any other type of radiation capable of producing radiation in response to an electrical signal. It should be understood to include a carrier injection / junction based system. Thus, the term LED includes, but is not limited to, various semiconductor-based structures that emit light in response to current, light emitting polymers, organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), electroluminescent strips, and the like. The term LED is configured to generate radiation in one or more of the various parts of the infrared spectrum, the ultraviolet spectrum, and the visible spectrum (generally including radiation wavelengths from about 400 nanometers to about 700 nanometers), among other things. Refers to all types of light emitting diodes that can be (including semiconductor and organic light emitting diodes). Some examples of LEDs include various types of infrared LEDs, ultraviolet LEDs, red LEDs, blue LEDs, green LEDs, yellow LEDs, amber LEDs, orange LEDs and white LEDs (discussed further below), although Not limited to these. LEDs have different bandwidths (eg, full width at half maximum, ie FWHM) for a given spectrum (eg, narrow bandwidth, wide band width), and different main wavelengths within a given general color classification. It should also be understood that it can be configured and / or controlled to produce radiation with.

For example, some embodiments of LEDs that are configured to produce essentially white light (eg, white LEDs), in combination, mix to form essentially white light, electroluminescence of different spectra. Can contain a large number of chips, each emitting. In another embodiment, the white light LED can be associated with a phosphor material that transforms electroluminescence with a first spectrum into electroluminescence with a different second spectrum. In one example of this practice, electroluminescence with a relatively short wavelength and narrow bandwidth spectrum "excites" the fluorophore material, which in turn causes the fluorophore material to have a somewhat broader spectrum. It emits radiation with a longer wavelength than it has.

It should also be understood that the term LED does not limit the type of physical and / or electrical package of the LED. For example, as described above, LEDs have multiple chips configured to emit radiation of different spectra (which may or may not be individually controllable). It may refer to a single light emitting device. The LED may also be associated with a phosphor that is considered an integral part of the LED (eg, some type of white LED). Generally, the term LED refers to packaged LEDs, non-packaged LEDs, surface-mounted LEDs, chip-on-board LEDs, T-package mounted LEDs, radial package LEDs, power package LEDs, some type of encasement and / or optics. It may refer to an LED or the like including (for example, a diffuser lens).

The term "light source" refers to LED-based light sources (including one or more LEDs as defined above), incandescent light sources (eg, filament lamps, halogen lamps), fluorescence sources, phosphorus light sources, high. Bright emission power sources (eg, sodium vapor, mercury vapor and metal halide lamps), lasers, other types of electroluminescent sources, pyro-luminescent sources (eg flames), candle- luminescent source (eg, gas mantle, carbon arc luminescence source), photoluminescence source (eg, gas release power), cathode luminescence source using electronic satiation, galvanoluminescence source (eg, galvanoluminescence source) galvano-luminescent source, crystallo-luminescent source, kine-lumincescent source, thermal luminescence source, friction luminescence source, sonoluminescence source, radioluminescent source ) And luminescent polymers, but should be understood to refer to any one or more of various sources of radiation, including but not limited to these.

A given light source may be configured to produce electromagnetic radiation within the visible spectrum, electromagnetic radiation outside the visible spectrum, or a combination of both. Therefore, in the present specification, the terms "light" and "radiation" are used interchangeably. Further, the light source may include one or more filters (eg, color filters), lenses, or other optics as an integral component. It should also be understood that light sources can be configured for a variety of applications including, but not limited to, indication, display, and / or illumination. A "light source" is, among other things, a light source configured to produce radiation that is strong enough to effectively illuminate an indoor or outdoor space. In this regard, "sufficient intensity" is ambient lighting (ie, light that can be indirectly perceived, eg, one of various intervening surfaces before being perceived in whole or in part. Refers to sufficient radiant intensity in the visible spectrum generated in said space or environment to supply light that can be reflected from the above (in terms of radiant intensity or "luminous flux" to represent the total light output from a light source in all directions. , Often the unit "lumen" is used).

The term "controller" is commonly used herein to refer to various devices associated with the operation of one or more light sources. The controller can be implemented in many ways (eg, using dedicated hardware) to perform the various functions described herein. A "processor" is an example of a controller using one or more microprocessors that can be programmed with software (eg, microcode) to perform the various functions described herein. The controller may be implemented with or without a processor, and further, dedicated hardware for performing some functions and a processor for performing other functions. It may be implemented in combination with (eg, one or more programmable microprocessors and related circuits). Examples of controller components that may be used in the various embodiments of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, conventional microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Any one of the controllers is configured, programmed and / or configured to perform the described functions by various types of "controllers" that may be suitable for use in any aspect of the invention. Therefore, it will include all possible forms of "controller".

In various embodiments, the processor or controller is a volatile and non-volatile computer memory, floppy (registered trademark, such as, for example, RAM, PROM, EPROM and EEPROM, collectively referred to herein as "memory". ) Can be associated with one or more storage media (such as disks, compact disks, optical disks, magnetic tapes, etc.). In some embodiments, the storage medium is one or more that, when executed in one or more processors and / or controllers, performs at least some of the functions described herein. Can be coded in the program of. The various storage media may be mounted within a processor or controller, or one or more programs stored in the storage medium implement various aspects of the invention as described herein. It may be portable so that it can be loaded into a processor or controller for this purpose. The term "program" or "computer program" is used herein to generally refer to any type of computer code (eg, software or microcode) that can be used to program one or more processors or controllers. It is used in a general sense. Furthermore, it should be understood that the "program" or "computer code" is stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium.

All combinations of the above concepts and the further concepts described in more detail below (if such concepts are consistent with each other) are part of the subject matter of the present invention disclosed herein. It should be understood that it is intended. In particular, all combinations of claims at the end of this disclosure are intended to be part of the subject matter of the invention disclosed herein. The terminology explicitly used herein, which may also appear in any of the disclosures contained by reference, is most consistent with the particular concept disclosed herein. It should also be understood that meaning should be given.

These and other aspects of the invention will be described and clarified with respect to the following examples.

In drawings, similar reference numerals generally refer to the same part across different figures. Also, the drawings are not necessarily on scale and instead, the general focus is on explaining the principles of the invention.
It is the schematic of the light source including the optical component by an Example. It is a schematic side view of the light source located in the proximity receding part with the vertical surface by an Example. It is a schematic side view of the light source located in the proximity receding part with the horizontal surface by an Example. It is a schematic top view of the light source located in the proximity receding part with the horizontal surface by an Example. It is the schematic of the input surface of the optical component by an Example. It is the schematic of the light source including the optical component by an Example. It is the schematic of the light source including the optical component by an Example. It is the schematic of the light source including the optical component by an Example. It is the schematic of the lighting system by an Example.

The present disclosure describes various embodiments of devices, systems, devices and methods for illuminating surfaces with asymmetric optics. More broadly, Applicants recognize and understand that the present disclosure will be beneficial in improving the control and quality of horizontal and vertical beam patterns to create uniform illumination on the surface. A particular object of the use of the embodiments of the present disclosure is to make it possible to illuminate a surface from a lighting unit having a proximity receding portion relative to the surface.

In view of the above, various embodiments and implementations aim for a light source and a lighting unit comprising an optical component located between the light source and the surface to be illuminated. The optics include a convex lens portion that focuses a portion of the light on a distal portion of the surface and a concave lens portion that focuses a portion of the light on a proximal portion of the surface. The optics thereby modify the light beam emitted by the light source to provide a largely uniform illumination distribution along the surface.

Referring to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, a lighting unit 10 including one or more light sources 12 is supplied, and one or more of the light sources may be LED-based light sources. Further, the LED-based light source may have one or more LEDs. The light source can be driven by one or more light source drivers 14 to emit light of a predetermined characteristic (eg, color intensity, color temperature). In the lighting unit 10, many different numbers of different types of light sources (all LED-based light sources, LED-based light sources only, LED-based Only light sources that have not been used, or a combination thereof, etc.) can be used.

The lighting unit 10 may also include a controller 16 configured or programmed to drive a light source and output one or more signals to generate light of varying intensities and / or colors from the light source. For example, the controller 16 may generate a control signal for each light source to independently control the intensity and / or color of the light produced by each light source, or to control all the light sources together. Can be programmed or configured. According to another aspect, the controller 16 may control another dedicated circuit, such as a light source driver 14, which controls the light source to change the intensity of the light source. The controller 16 may be, for example, a microprocessor programmed using software to perform the various functions described herein, and may be used in combination with the memory 18. The memory stores various types of data including, but not limited to, data containing one or more lighting commands or software programs for execution by the microprocessor, and specific identifiers for the lighting unit. Can be done. The controller 16 may be programmed, configured and / or configured to cause the light source driver 14 to adjust the intensity and / or color temperature of the light source 12 particularly based on predetermined data such as ambient light conditions and time of day.

The lighting unit 10 is most typically an AC power source, but includes, among other things, a power source 20 which may be another power source, including a DC power source, a sun-based power source or a machine-based power source. The power supply may be in operational communication with a power supply converter that converts the power received from the external power supply into a form that can be used by the lighting unit. To power the various components of the lighting unit 10, it receives AC power from the external AC power source 20 and converts the AC power into direct current for the purpose of powering the components of the lighting unit. A DC converter (eg, a rectifier circuit) (not shown) may also be included. The lighting unit may also include a switch 22 to start and stop the lighting unit.

Referring to FIG. 2, in some embodiments, the lighting unit 10 illuminates a vertical surface 32, such as a wall or the outer surface of a building, with a light beam 28. The vertical surface includes a proximal portion 34 and a distal portion 36. For one or more of a variety of reasons, including aesthetics and design constraints, the lighting unit is not facing straight to the surface, but at an angle to the surface and close to the surface. Be placed. This receding position requires the lighting unit to control horizontal and vertical lighting beam patterns to provide a suitable lighting pattern for the surface. Similarly, in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the lighting unit 10 illuminates a horizontal surface 32 such as a sidewalk with a light beam 28. The horizontal surface includes a proximal portion 34 and a distal portion 36, which are defined by the position of each portion from the light source. For one or more of the various reasons, the lighting unit is placed near the surface, not on the surface, but perpendicular to the surface. This receding position requires the lighting unit to control horizontal and vertical lighting beam patterns to provide a suitable lighting pattern for the surface. In particular, this position requires a plurality of lighting units 10, such as the lighting unit 10 in FIG. 3B, to work together to create a uniform lighting pattern that includes overlapping areas between the units.

Referring to FIG. 4, in some embodiments, an input surface 39 of an optical component 40 is provided that modifies the light beam emitted by the light source to create an illumination pattern on the surface. Below the input surface 39 are one or more light sources 12. According to the embodiment, the input surface 39 of the optical component 40 is configured to generate a predetermined illumination pattern on the surface. In this embodiment, the input surface 39 includes one or more positive power regions 43, also referred to as a convex lens region or a convergent lens region. The convex lens portion 43 is configured to direct a portion of the emitted light beam 28 towards a remote or distal portion of the surface. The input surface 39 also includes one or more negative power regions 41, also referred to as concave lens regions or divergent lens regions. The concave lens portion 41 is configured to direct a portion of the emitted light beam 28 toward a portion near or proximal to the surface.

Thus, the input surface 39 of the optical component 40 is a free curved surface that can be designed to modify the light beam emitted by the light source to create a particular illumination pattern on the surface. For example, an embodiment of the input surface 39 of the optical component 40 of FIG. 4 is designed to create a particular illumination pattern on the surface. According to yet another embodiment, as described in more detail below, part of the optics 40, such as the input surface, is Cartesian oval to create a particular illumination pattern on the surface. be. The optics 40 may have different incident surface shapes and different exit surface shapes that allow for different embodiments and designs.

According to the embodiment, the adaptive input surface of the optical component 40 is based on the position of the optical image 60 of the light source 12 with respect to the optical component 40, not the actual physical position of the light source 12 with respect to the optical component 40. Is configured to create a specific lighting pattern. For example, a Cartesian egg-shaped input surface 39 would optically move the light source to a different position by creating an optical image 60 of the light source at a position different from the physical position of the light source. The Cartesian oval can, for example, create an optical image 60 of the light source 12 at various positions, at infinity, behind the physical light source, between the light source and the optics, and within the optics. May include arranging in. The adaptable surface of the optical component 40 is configured to create a particular illumination pattern on the surface based on the position of the optical image 60 of the light source 12.

According to the embodiment, software is used to design the optical component 40. In another example, the optics can be designed without the help of a computer. If software is used, an illumination distribution for the surface can be generated. The user specifies the size and shape of the surface, as well as the size of the gradient around the edges of the illumination. The user can also control the beam cutoff and softness by adjusting the slope at the top, bottom, and left and right edges. With that information, the software creates a table of illuminance data with the desired gradient from the center to the edge. According to the examples, each of the desired gradients is generated by a spline curve with the appropriate points. Once the illuminance data is generated, the information is used by the optical design software to design the optics. Optical design software that can be purchased or programmed is used to design one or more free-form surfaces of optics based on a defined illuminance and / or intensity distribution.

Referring to FIG. 5A, in some embodiments, the light source 12 and the optical component 40 are supplied. In this embodiment, for example, the incident surface shape 62 of the optical component 40 creates an optical image 60 of the light source 12 that appears to be closer to the optical component than where the light source 12 is actually located. The exit surface 64 of the optical component 40 may be designed to create a particular illumination pattern on the surface based on the position of the optical image 60. Referring to FIG. 5B, in some embodiments, the light source 12 and the optical component 40 are supplied. In this embodiment, for example, the incident surface shape 62 of the optical component 40 creates an optical image 60 of the light source 12 in which the light source 12 appears to be farther away from the optical component than it actually is. The exit surface 64 of the optical component 40 may be designed to create a particular illumination pattern on the surface based on the position of the optical image 60.

Referring to FIG. 6, in some embodiments, a lighting unit 10 containing one or more light sources 12 is supplied, and one or more of the light sources may be LED-based light sources. The illumination unit 10 also includes an optical component 40 that modifies the light beam emitted by the light source to create an illumination pattern on the surface. According to the embodiment, the optical component is configured to generate a predetermined illumination pattern on the surface. The optical component 40 is either the following or an embodiment separately envisioned herein. The lighting unit 10 also includes an asymmetric diffuser 42 located on the optical component 40. According to the embodiment, the asymmetric diffuser 42 is curved so as to surround the optical component so that the light beam exiting the optical component approaches the diffuser at an angle substantially perpendicular to the surface of the diffuser. ing. Designing the diffuser 42 to surround the optics and the light source improves the light distribution. This is because it allows the light beam to enter perpendicular to the diffuser surface over a wider angular range. This provides better control and higher efficiency of light compared to traditional techniques that leave the diffuser flat. According to the embodiment, the profile of the diffuser is between 0 and 5 degrees in a certain direction along the axis shown by 44 in FIG. 6 (into the figure and in the figure). It is between 10 and 40 degrees along an axis perpendicular to the (outward) axis 44. According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the assembly may be surrounded by a cover lens 46 having a profile that follows the curvature of the diffuser 42. Many other designs of the cover lens 46 are conceivable and in some embodiments there will be no cover lens.

As shown in FIG. 6, the illumination unit 10 has a baffle 52 to block the reddish light that may be formed at the edge of the light beam near the cutoff of the beam due to the color dispersion of the positive or convergent lens. According to some embodiments that may also include, the baffle is located between the light source and the surface to be illuminated. For example, the baffle can be placed at any point or position between the surface and the light source, such as on either side of the diffuser, cover and / or optics. According to the embodiment, the baffle 52 is a light blocker, a reflector, or a diffuser with a very wide scattering angle. As just one example, the baffle 52 may be a textured portion of the surface of the cover lens 46 rather than a separate component of the lighting unit or system.

Referring to FIG. 7, in some embodiments, a lighting system 50 is provided that includes a plurality of lighting units 10, each comprising one or more light sources 12, with one or more of the light sources being based on LEDs. Can be a light source. Each illumination unit 10 also includes an optical component 40 that modifies the light beam emitted by the light source to create an illumination pattern on the surface. According to the embodiment, the optical component is configured to generate a predetermined illumination pattern on the surface. In this embodiment, the lighting system 50 also includes a diffuser 42. The diffuser 42 may be an individual diffuser arranged between each optical component 40 and the surface, or may be a flat sheet between two or more optical components and the surface. The diffuser 42 can be, for example, an embodiment such as that shown in FIG. The lighting system 50 also includes a baffle 52 placed between the optics and the surface to be illuminated to block the reddish light that may form at the edges of the light beam near the beam cutoff. obtain.

According to the embodiment, therefore, the lighting system 50 directs the emitted light beam to a controlled horizontal and vertical beam pattern with several advantages. For example, the edges of each light beam are controlled to allow a predetermined pattern resulting from the overlap of the plurality of beams. As another example, the light beam can be the same width at the top, i.e., distal portion, and bottom, i.e., proximal portion of the beam. That is, the width of the light beam is larger at low vertical angles and narrower at high vertical angles, resulting in a controlled projection of the light beam.

This control of the light beam by the optical component 40 offers many applications. For example, a lighting unit or lighting system can be utilized, among other things, to create a more uniform lighting profile from a proximity receding part such as a ceiling or wall to a surface. As another example, a lighting unit or lighting system can be utilized to create a more "natural" light distribution. This is because natural lighting often has a more uniform lighting profile. In settings such as external buildings where wall washing is desirable, the lighting units or lighting systems disclosed or separately envisioned herein are closer than are possible otherwise. A more uniform lighting profile can be created from the receding part. Conventional systems require multiple lighting units or lighting systems that are directed to different locations, whereas a single lighting unit or system as disclosed or separately envisioned herein. It will also reduce system complexity, while also providing reduced wasted light and a significant improvement in uniformity at the target surface. For example, for aisle lighting, the lighting unit can be kept very low relative to the ground while illuminating a large area with high uniformity. A single lighting unit can be utilized in a very uniform pattern of 180 degree light around the fixture, with virtually no wasted light. Yet another application may be a bulletin board in which the lighting unit or lighting system can be used to create a more uniform lighting profile from the proximity retreat to the bulletin board surface. There can be these and many other uses.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and / or the usual meanings of the terms defined. be.

Here, the indefinite articles "a" and "an" as used in the specification and claims should be understood to mean "at least one" unless explicitly stated otherwise. Is.

Here, the expression "and / or" as used in the specification and claims is "either or both" of such coordinating elements, i.e., in some cases. It should be understood to mean an element that exists conjunctively and, in other cases, disjunctively. Multiple elements listed using "and / or" should be interpreted in the same way, i.e., "one or more" of such coordinating elements. Is. In addition to the elements explicitly identified by the "and / or" section, other elements may optionally exist, whether or not they are related to those elements specifically identified.

Here, "or" as used in the specification and claims should be understood to have the same meaning as "and / or" as defined above. For example, when disassembling items in a list, "or" or "and / or" contains a large number or list elements, i.e., at least one of a large number or list elements. However, it should also be construed as containing two or more, and optionally, additional, unlisted items. On the contrary, only clearly stated terms such as "only one of" or "exactly one of", or "consisting of" as used in the claims, are numerous or. It would mean that it contains exactly one of the elements in the list. Broadly, the term "or" as used herein is such as "any", "one of", "only one of" or "exactly one of". Only when the term of exclusivity precedes it should be construed as indicating an exclusive option (ie, "one or the other, not both").

Here, the expression "at least one" with respect to a list of one or more elements, as used in the specification and claims, is selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements. It means at least one element, but is understood to not necessarily include at least one of every element explicitly listed in the list of elements and does not exclude any combination of elements in the list of elements. Should be. This definition is also whether or not elements other than those explicitly identified in the list of elements to which the expression "at least one" is related are related to those elements that are explicitly identified. Allows it to exist at will.

In any method including two or more steps or actions claimed herein, the sequence of steps or actions of the method does not necessarily mean that the steps or actions of the method are, unless explicitly stated otherwise. It should also be understood that it is not limited to the order in which it is listed.

In the claims and the above specification, all such as "have", "contain", "provide", "have", "include", "include", "hold", "consist of" and the like. It should be understood that the transitional phrase is non-restrictive, that is, it means that it contains, but is not limited. As described in Section 2111.03 of the United States Patent Office Examination Procedures Manual, only the transitional phrases "consisting of" and "consisting of essentially" are exclusive or semi-exclusive transitional phrases, respectively.

Although some embodiments of the present invention are described and illustrated in the specification of the present application, those skilled in the art are described in and / or in the specification of the present application for performing the functions described in the specification of the present application. Various other means and / or structures for obtaining one or more of these advantages and / or the results described herein will be readily devised. Each of such modifications and / or modifications is considered to be within the scope of the embodiments of the invention described herein. More generally, one of ordinary skill in the art intends that all parameters, dimensions, materials and configurations described herein are exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials and It will be readily appreciated that the configuration will depend on one or more specific applications in which the teachings of the present invention are used. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand, or will be able to confirm, using simple routine experiments, many examples equivalent to the particular examples of the invention described herein. Therefore, the above examples are presented as only examples, and the appended claims and examples of the present invention within the scope of those equivalents are described in detail and claimed. It should be understood that other than those described can be implemented. The embodiments of the present invention of the present disclosure are directed to the individual features, systems, objects, materials, kits and / or methods described herein. Moreover, any combination of two or more such features, systems, objects, materials, kits and / or methods will be provided if such features, systems, objects, materials, kits and / or methods are consistent with each other. , Can be included within the scope of the present invention of the present disclosure.

Claims (15)

A lighting unit, which is a lighting unit configured to illuminate a surface having a proximal portion and a distal portion with respect to the lighting unit.
A light source configured to emit a light beam ,
An optical component located between the light source and the surface, configured such that the optical component modifies the emitted light beam so that it has a largely uniform illumination distribution along the surface. And having an input surface facing the light source, the input surface is (i) a convex lens portion configured to direct a portion of the emitted light beam towards the distal portion of the surface. , (Ii) an optical component having a concave lens portion configured to direct a portion of the emitted light beam toward the proximal portion of the surface , and
A lighting unit that is a diffuser located between the optical component and the surface, and has a diffuser that is arranged over the optical component and has a diffuser that is at least partially contoured around the optical component. Claim that the diffuser is curved around the optical component so that the light beam exiting the optical component approaches the diffuser at an angle substantially perpendicular to the surface of the diffuser. Item 1. The lighting unit according to item 1. The lighting unit according to claim 2, further comprising a cover lens that follows the curvature of the diffuser. The lighting unit according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising a baffle located between the optical component and the surface. The lighting unit according to claim 4, wherein the baffle is a textured portion of the surface of the cover lens. The lighting unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the light source is an LED-based light source. The lighting unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the lighting unit has a plurality of light sources. The lighting unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the emitted light beam has a substantially uniform lighting distribution along the length of the surface. A lighting system having a plurality of lighting units according to claim 1 and a baffle located between the optical component and the surface. The lighting system according to claim 9 , wherein the light source is an LED-based light source. The lighting system according to claim 9 , wherein the lighting system has a plurality of light sources. The illumination system according to claim 9 , wherein the emitted light beam has a substantially uniform illumination distribution along the length of the surface. The lighting system according to claim 9 , further comprising a cover lens. The lighting system according to claim 13, wherein the baffle is a textured portion of the cover lens. The lighting system according to claim 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14, wherein the light source has a plurality of LED-based light sources, each of which is configured to emit a light beam.

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